Traditional leaders voice concern

TRADITIONAL leaders in Beitbridge have urged Government to intervene and stop the rampant abuse of the country’s natural resources such as amacimbi, baobab fruits, Mopani woodlands and marula fruits by unscrupulous gangs.

It is understood that mopane worms top the list of natural resources that play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of communities in the province (mostly in Beitbridge, Bulilima, Gwanda, Matobo and Mangwe Districts).

The leaders said they were concerned about the destruction of grazing lands and the pollution of the environment in the area.

Headmen Toteng Alfred Mazibeli (Beitbridge West) said the non-timber forestry products in the area had great potential to uplift the livelihoods of many villagers if proper business management was applied.

He was speaking during an amacimbi/madora indaba held in Beitbridge on Wednesday afternoon.

The event was attended by various arms of government and traditional and community leaders.

“We are very concerned with the willy-nilly cutting of trees and the clearance of pastures by gangs of people invading our forestry without our knowledge to tap our natural resources,” said headman Mazibeli.

“There should be an organised way of carrying out such projects using environmentally friendly business models and the same time promoting culture and the preservation of our natural resources. We disapprove some of the unorthodox methods including the cutting down burning of pastures and the pollution of the environment where these gangs will be conducting their activities. As traditional leaders, we are the custodians’ people and natural resources within our area of jurisdiction and hence there must be consultations all the time where the harvesting of NTFP is concerned.” — Herald Reporter.